So a group of friends and I all went to go see the movie I, Tonya, last night and it was really interesting.
I was pretty young when she was in the spotlight, like pre-teen or younger, but old enough, I guess to talk about whether or not to be Team Tonya, which I was. When I first told my gf that she seemed appalled. "But didn't she club that other woman?" But then we got into the story a little deeper and while clearly Tonya was young and dumb and had a lot of faults, even as an adult I have a lot of sympathy for her and I think this film really did her story justice. It didn't give her a free pass, but it did explain her circumstances well.
Anyway, I just thought it was really well done and we talked about it a lot after. My friend told me about this recent New York Times interview with Tonya, which I went home right away. It, like the movie, is nuanced, but I also thought a tiny bit condescending at times and a little overwrought. But it also was a pretty fair portrayal. It also produced one of the best interview quotes I've ever read. When asked by Harding moved from Portland to nearby Vancouver, Washington (my hometown) she says, "Oregon was buttheads." Of course I had to meme it.
So no matter your thoughts on Tonya, Nancy, any of their associates or the way the US Figure Skating Association was in the 1990s or today it presents some really good talking points on class, domestic violence, nature vs nurture and so much more so I'm really interested in what people have to say. I'd love for a discussion to start. If you need inspiration another really good Tonya article to check out is at my favorite (well kinda the only one left) queer women's website Autostraddle. They always have insightful discussion there that could help us get started
